In the last 100 years, 90% of UK vegetable varieties have been lost from our soils. That means that of the vegetable varieties you’re used to seeing at the Greengrocer of SuperMarket and more to the point buying from trusty Mr Fothergills or Sutton Seeds, there are actually another 9 times again as many vegetables that you are being denied the choice of purchasing let alone seeing. And get this, and this is serious shit. It’s ILLEGAL, yes ILLEGAL for the seeds for these varieties to be sold commercially thanks to European Seed Law. What we’re saying here is Vegetable, yes Vegetable seed trading for 90% of the indigenous Vegetables of the United Kingdom, not Sex Trafficking or Ammunitions Trading… is ILLEGAL.
I’ve seen and read some things recently and frankly this is infuriating.
In fact on a slight alternate whinge, I find the fact that Cannabis as a plant is illegal to be a injustice to the legal system which is based upon ‘Gods Law’ which I’m sure would make Cannabis one of Gods plants would it not, bewilderingly stupid to be frank. And while I’m at it Poppy’s too. There’s a difference between growing a few Opium Poppy’s or Cannabis plants for your own enjoyment and farming either, on a commercial scale. It’s easy to see which is which and a few plants is understandable. Farming fields of the stuff which has commercial purposes and obviously isn’t powering a unquenched personal habit, as you would be too smashed up to be able to get up to farm and tend to your crop if you were than bang on either of them anyhow.
What’s amazing here is this incredible detachment from Nature in every form being demonstrated here. Nature is here to be profited from, Nature is evil, Nature must be prohibited, yet we ARE Nature and a VERY insignificant part at that.
We don’t play an important part in any of the ecosystems. If Humanity were to be wiped out tomorrow, the rest of the living inhabitants on this planet would thrive and not miss us in the slightest. I’m sure a few cats might meow for a day or too and I’d certainly miss my dog if I had one.. But seriously, In stark contrast to the Bees for example. Think if all the plants were no longer pollinated by the little flying beasties of this world. What effects would that have. Go on. Stop reading, think what would happen if everything that relied on pollination were suddenly unable to be pollinated.
You starting to realise yet?
We are Consumers. Consumers of the highest order who have been contributing less and less back into the intricate world around us since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. The Irony that I’m actually whining on the backbone of the greatest communication collaboration tool that we’ve created yet since said revolution is kinda funny. But If I were to write a letter to you all, well you get the idea.
So after much typing. Here’s some things to do.
Find yourself and hour and a half and watch this The World According to Monsanto and perhaps ‘find’ it on the internet if you’re resourceful. This isn’t the kinda documentary you’ll get in Blockbuster or WHSmith.
Visit these guys, Heritage Seed Library and even better, if you have your own Land/Garden become a member and start contributing towards the cause.
I hope you find this post useful.
P x
